He has since performed a bit of a U-turn, clarifying his remarks and expressing his undying love for the competition, while essentially confirming what he said the other night â the league comes first.

With his team propping up the Premier League, Kean has decided fighting for survival is more important than a day trip to Wembley and, with the potential financial price of relegation so steep, itâs hard not to have sympathy with him.

Presumably itâs a strategy he discussed with the clubâs owners who, desperate for a return on their investment and possibly wary of what happened to last yearâs winners Birmingham, are likely to prize top-flight revenue streams over a third-string domestic trophy.